WBK: Vikings Picked To Win NSIC Title

The Augustana women’s basketball team was unanimously selected by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference coaches to win the conference title in a poll released Thursday afternoon. Senior forward Alex Feeney was tabbed as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year in the south division.

The Vikings return four starters from last year’s team which finished 24-7, second in the NSIC with an 18-4 conference record, and advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Feeney leads the way for Augustana and is joined by fellow seniors Lydia Nelson, Faith Tinklenberg, and Cami Koehn. Junior All-NSIC defensive team selection Emily Schulte returns and is joined in the backcourt by 2011-12 NSIC Freshman of the Year, Shaunteva Ashley.

The Vikings earned a maximum of 225 points, all possible 15 first-place votes (coaches may not vote for their own team), and all seven first place votes among south division coaches for 49 points.

Feeney enters her senior season with high expectations after receiving several accolades during the 2011-12 campaign. An All-NSIC selection after the season, Feeney also collected honorable mention All-America honors from the WBCA and the Division II Bulletin. Feeney is the leading returning scorer for both the Vikings and the NSIC after scoring 16.4 points per game. The Bismarck, N.D. native also led Augustana in minutes played (35.0) and rebounds per game (7.4) along with being named NSIC player of the week twice last season (Jan. 4 and Jan. 16).

The Vikings begin the 2012-13 season with an exhibition game against Minnesota-Morris on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. before kicking off the regular season with a match against Mount Marty on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Elmen Center. Augustana then begins their 22-game NISC schedule at home against Wayne State on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m.